English football is reeling this morning after police raids at Newcastle United and West Ham.
According to reports in The Sun and Sky News dozens of arrests have been made including Newcastle managing director Lee CharnleY. 180 police officers are involved and have worked with the French authorities on the issue.
A statement read: “HMRC has arrested several men working within the professional football industry for a suspected Income Tax and National Insurance fraud.
“180 HMRC officers have been deployed across the UK and France today. Investigators have searched a number of premises in the North East and South East of England and arrested the men and also seized business records, financial records, computers and mobile phones.
“The French authorities are assisting the UK investigation, have made arrests and several locations have been searched in France.
“This criminal investigation sends a clear message that, whoever you are, if you commit tax fraud you can expect to face the consequences. As this is an ongoing investigation HMRC is unable to provide any further detail at this time.”
Football has long been viewed suspiciously by the tax authorities with millions and now billions of pounds swirling around in the game.
On reports Newcastle United MD Lee Charnley arrested, HMRC say several men working in professional football arrested for suspected tax fraud
— David Conn (@david_conn) April 26, 2017
Club officials are at liberty to sanction one off payments to agents and middlemen with HMRC keen to see their share of the action.
Payments for image rights made to offshore accounts and various trust schemes seem to be popular in the game with the clamour from fans demanding ever increasing spending.
In July 2007 the Metropolitan Police co-ordinated raids on Rangers, West Ham and Portsmouth which uncovered the side letters used to guarantee Trust fund payments made to dozens of footballers.